Bway Salaries — Page 2

Yeah, the whole two-tier system, with potential profit-participation for the actors, but only in certain cases and for certain tours ..... I'll leave that to you to expain Zola, or anyone else who feels up to it -- the whole thing gives me a headache just thinking about it...

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Updated On: 8/9/04 at 07:21 PM

We also have to remember that these salaries are for people who are on Broadway. Goodness knows there are thousands of actors who are trying to get there. Plus, musical theatre actors then have to pay for periodic voice lessons, dance lessons, etc. With all those expenses and an unstable job, I don't think the pay looks all that great.

500 bucks a week hurts a bit it you're Idina.

Only a bit, when you consider that she makes more a month than the vast majority of people do a year.

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Do they get paid for days they miss?

On the other hand, there are the cases of actors working on probably more lucrative branches of the entertainment industry who come to Broadway because of the lure of live theatre ( Sean Combs, Ashley Judd, Hugh Jackman, Joey Fatone, etc.) - I wonder how much they forego of their actual earning power when they tread the boards for a long period. I am not referring to those whose careers are certainly on the wane and who come to Broadway for real employment or to revive the careers they have been associated with.

could someone please tell me how idina became the standard to which we now measure everything?

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Ken, when the original deal is made (and contract signed), they settle on a post-Tony win raise.

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So is Hugh over 50K/week now then (after Tonys)?

Personally, Possums, I don't believe it's anyone's business what another person makes at his or her job - no matter what kind of position it is.

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Anyone know whether foreign performers appearing with Equity's permission go under the same rules?

NYU, I'm basically saying that you can have a nice job in a Broadway show for a year, making approximately $70,000 @ Equity minimum. Factor in living expenses, rent, voice lessons, dance, etc and that number drops. Then let's figure that your show closes and you're out of a job...you could very well never get hired again and that $70,000 goes down the drain. These are obviously grim circumstances but my point was that Making It On Broadway paints this as the reality of the situation. You can be making a good amount of money but once your out of a job, you could be out of a job on Broadway forever - there's no guarantees in this business.

I agree - it's no one's business what someone else makes. I remember the flap over Lane and Broderick coming back to the Producers and how much they were making or not making. Lane said in the Times Talks interview in January that he took this as a contribution to more risky projects he really wanted to do like the Frogs and Butley...but even if he was going to do nothing with the money but sit home and eat bon bons...it's his business...I don't like people I work with asking what I make and it's none of their business. If the company feels I'm worth the money and I'm MAKING them money in return that's between me and them.

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